Britain was adjusting to a new political landscape today after a shock election victory for Prime Minister David Cameron that decapitated the opposition and bolstered secessionists in Scotland.
While Cameron spent the weekend drawing up his new team of ministers, the Scottish National Party (SNP) was celebrating its seismic gains, insisting it would not be sidelined in the new parliament.
Despite pollsters predicting he would lose ground in Thursday's vote, Cameron's Conservatives won 331 of the 650 seats in parliament, giving him a second term in office - this time with a majority for his centre-right party.
While there were dramatic gains for the Conservatives and the Scottish National Party (SNP), the opposition was left in disarray after the Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders quit over their party's drubbings.
The UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader also resigned, after a huge swell in support for the populist party secured only one parliamentary seat.
In their first editions since the full election result, British newspapers said today that Cameron had pulled off a triumphant victory thanks to a surge in support from so-called shy Conservatives.
"A fresh era of British politics dawns," read a headline in the centre-right Daily Telegraph.
The victory gives the Conservatives a freer hand than in Cameron's previous government - a coalition with the Liberal Democrats - but the slender majority leaves them prey to rebellion from within their own ranks.
The Times said Cameron would need "every ounce of statesmanship" to surmount the challenges facing him.
"His majority is slim and using it will not be easy. His real work starts now."
Cameron had already agreed to hold an in-out referendum on Britain's European Union membership by 2017 due to pressure from the Conservative right wing and a rising UKIP and he was quick to confirm his pledge yesterday.
There is growing concern in the business community about the referendum, even though Cameron has said he will campaign to stay in as long as he can negotiate reforms to cut down on EU migrants moving to Britain.
EU partners gave a taste of the tough talks ahead in their congratulations for his re-election, with French President Francois Hollande saying that there were "rules in Europe" to be respected.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said that the bloc's four key principles including freedom of movement were "non-negotiable".
